Automated container unloader

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments illustrated herein disclose a container unloader device. The container unloader device comprises a platform to receive a container, wherein the container comprises a package. The container unloader device also comprises a front panel configured to move between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation, wherein when the front panel being is in the raised orientation, the front panel is orthogonal with respect to the platform, and when the front panel is in the lowered orientation, the front panel and the platform form a continuous surface. The platform can be pivoted from a first angle to a second angle, that is greater than the first angle. The package leans against the front panel the front panel is in the raised orientation. The package is released on a surface of a conveyor when the front panel is in the lowered orientation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 17/244,132, filed Apr. 29, 2021, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally tocontainer unloaders, and a method of automatically unloading containersfrom the container unloader using a robotic device.

BACKGROUND

Containers such as Unit Load Devices (ULDs) are used to transportpackages or cargo in a warehouse or to an aircraft. Each of thecontainers hold a plurality of packages to be transported from onelocation to another. In some cases, each of the containers can beprovided with wheels so that the containers can be rolled in and out ofa loading or an unloading area in the warehouse. Further, there can besignificant transportation costs and efforts associated with theconveyance of each of the containers holding the plurality of packages.Thus, manually loading and unloading containers leads to errors,mismanagement of overall workflow, and increased costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the subject disclosureare described with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a containerunloader, according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment comprising a plurality of containers, according to one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment comprising a plurality of container unloaders to beunloaded, wherein the plurality of container unloaders comprise aplurality of front panels connected to a continuous conveyor, accordingto one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment comprising a plurality of container unloaders, wherein theplurality of container unloaders comprise a plurality of front panelsconnected to a plurality of conveyors, according to one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a containerunloader in a horizontal position with respect to a front panelconnected to the container unloader, wherein the container unloader isin a raised orientation, according to one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the containerunloader in an inclined position with respect to the front panelconnected to the container unloader, wherein the container unloader isin the raised orientation, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the containerunloader in an inclined position with respect to the front panelconnected to the container unloader, wherein the container unloader isin a lowered orientation, according to one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of rotation of acontainer unloader with respect to a front panel connected to thecontainer unloader, wherein the front panel is in a raised orientation,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of rotation of acontainer unloader with respect to a front panel connected to thecontainer unloader, wherein the front panel is in a lowered orientation,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary perspective side view of rotation of acontainer unloader with respect to a front panel connected to thecontainer unloader, wherein the front panel is in a lowered orientation,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5D illustrates an exemplary perspective top view of rotation of acontainer unloader with respect to a front panel connected to thecontainer unloader, wherein the front panel is in a lowered orientation,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example flowchart representing a method ofreleasing a package onto a conveyor using the container unloader, inaccordance with some example embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It is evident,however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without thesespecific details.

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a container unloaderwhich can receive a container, wherein the container comprises one ormore packages and an opening through which the one or more packages canbe released. The container unloader comprises a platform to receive thecontainer, a front panel, and an actuator. The platform configured toreceive the container can be placed at a first angle with respect to aground surface. Further, the platform configured to receive thecontainer can be moved to a second angle with respect to the groundsurface, wherein the second angle can be greater than the first angle.The front panel of the container unloader can be configured to movebetween a raised orientation and a lowered orientation with respect tothe platform. In the raised orientation, the front panel of thecontainer unloader can be orthogonal with respect to the platform. Inthe lowered orientation, the front panel and the platform can form acontinuous surface. The actuator of the container unloader can beconfigured to pivot the platform from the first angle to the secondangle, wherein the one or more packages lean against a surface of thefront panel when the front panel is in the raised orientation and theplatform is at the second angle, and wherein the one or more packagesare released onto a surface of a conveyor when the front panel is in thelowered orientation and the platform is at the second angle. The use ofa container unloader can eliminate the need for manual labor to load andunload the container comprising the one or more packages, thus reducingeffort and cost related to container transportation and manual efforts.

In some embodiments, the container unloader can comprise a rotary joint.The rotary joint can be configured to be positioned between the platformof the container unloader and a surface of the container. The rotaryjoint is configured to rotate the container with respect to the frontpanel. In some other embodiments, the rotary joint is configured torotate the container around a rotational axis that is normal withrespect to the platform.

In some embodiments, the rotary joint can comprise a rotating plate anda cylindrical rod attached to the rotating plate, wherein the rotatingplate is configured to be placed between the platform of the containerunloader and the surface of the container. The platform can comprise ahollow portion to engage the cylindrical rod such that the cylindricalrod can be configured to be rotated to control the rotating plate. Insome embodiments, movement of the cylindrical rod can be controlledusing a motor. The rotating plate can be configured to rotate such thatthe one or more packages in the container are released through theopening of the container.

In some embodiments, the container can be rotated when the front panelis in the raised orientation with respect to the platform. In some otherembodiments, the container can be rotated when the front panel is in thelowered orientation with respect to the platform. In yet some otherembodiments, the rotary joint can comprise any suitable material, suchas any other metal or composite material.

In some embodiments, the front panel of the container unloader cancomprise of at least one or more of a first side panel and a second sidepanel, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel can beconfigured to be placed in an upright position with respect to a surfaceof the front panel.

In some embodiments, the front panel can comprise any suitable material,such as any other metal, core material, composite material, or alaminate material.

In some embodiments, the container comprising the one or more packagescan further comprise a frame, wherein the frame can form a primarystructure of the container. In some other embodiments, a first sidepanel and a second side panel can be attached to the frame of thecontainer. In yet some other embodiments, a top panel, a bottom panel,and a back panel can also be attached to the frame of the container. Inyet some other embodiments, one or more front panels can be attached tothe frame to create the opening through which the one or more packagescan be released from the container.

In some embodiments, at least one or more of the container and the framecan comprise any suitable material, such as any metal, core material,composite material, laminate material. In some other embodiments, thecontainer can be covered with at least one of a plastic sheet, aluminumsheets, fabric-reinforced tarpaulin sheets, or sheets of any othermaterial.

In some embodiments, the container unloader can comprise a roller bed toreceive the container, wherein the roller bed can be configured to beplaced on the platform of the container unloader.

In some embodiments, the container unloader can receive the containerfrom a robotic device. The robotic device from which the containerunloader receives the container can be at least one or more of anautomated guided vehicle (AGV) and an autonomous mobile robot (AMR).

In some embodiments, the container unloader can receive the containerfrom an operator driven vehicle. The operator driven vehicle from whichthe container unloader receives the container can be a fork-lift truck.

In some embodiments, the container can be latched to a surface of theplatform of the container unloader using a locking mechanism. In yetsome other embodiments, the locking mechanism used to latch thecontainer to the surface of the platform can be at least one or morelatches.

In some embodiments, the platform of the container unloader can compriseany suitable material, such as any metal, hard plastic, core material,laminate material, composite material.

In some embodiments, shape and dimension of the container can be suchthat the container can be placed in a fuselage of an aircraft. In someother embodiments, the container can comprise at least one of aircraftluggage, cargo, mail, or any other type of freight which can be unloadedfrom the aircraft. In some embodiments, the container can be configuredto have one or more shelves in the container to place the one or morepackages on.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a container unloader100, according to one or more embodiments described herein. Thecontainer unloader 100 can further comprise a platform 108 and a frontpanel 110. The platform 108 of the container unloader 100 can receive acontainer 102 comprising a package. In some embodiments, the container102 can comprise an opening in a front surface of the container 102 suchthat the package can be released from the container 102 through theopening in the front surface of the container 102. In some otherembodiments, the opening in the front surface of the container 102 cancomprise at least one of a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or anyother geometrical shape.

The container 102 can be transported to the platform 108 using a roboticdevice, such as 114 and 122. In some embodiments, the robotic device,such as 114 and 122 can be at least one of an automated guided vehicle(AGV) and an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). In some embodiments, therobotic device, such as 114 and 122 can comprise a first roller bed suchas 116 to receive the container 102.

In some embodiments, the robotic devices 114 and 122 can be similar toeach other in shape and dimension. In some other embodiments, therobotic devices 114 and 122 can be different from each other in shapeand dimension.

In some other embodiments, the platform 108 of the container unloader100 can further comprise a second roller bed 104 to receive thecontainer 102 from the robotic device 114. The platform 108 of thecontainer unloader 100 can be moved from a first angle to a second anglethat is greater than the first angle using an actuator 112. In someembodiments, the actuator 112 can move the platform 108 from the firstangle to the second angle such that at the second angle, the container102 is at an elevated height from a ground surface. The actuator 112 canfurther be placed on a base 120 of the container unloader 100. In someembodiments, the actuator 112 of the container unloader 100 can be atleast one of a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, a lead screw, abelt-driven actuator, or any other type of lift actuator. In some otherembodiments, the actuator 112 can be a telescopic actuator.

Further, the front panel 110 can be configured to pivot between a raisedorientation and a lowered orientation. When the front panel 110 is inthe raised orientation, the front panel 110 can be orthogonal withrespect to the platform 108. When the front panel 110 is in the loweredorientation, the front panel 110 and the platform 108 can form acontinuous surface. In some embodiments, a drive system such as 130 canbe used to control movement of the front panel 110 from the raisedorientation to the lowered orientation. The drive system 130 can be amotor-driven system, a hydraulic system, or any other drive system. Insome embodiments, the drive system 130 can comprise an actuator that canmove the front panel 110 from the raised orientation to the loweredorientation and vice versa. In some other embodiments, the drive system130 can control the front panel 110 such that the front panel 110 can belowered up to a desired angle with respect to the platform 108.

In some embodiments, when the actuator 112 moves the platform 108 of thecontainer unloader 100 from the first angle to the second angle and thefront panel 110 is in the raised orientation, the package in thecontainer 102 can fall through the opening in the front surface of thecontainer 102 and lean against a surface of the front panel 110. In someembodiments, the surface of the front panel 110 against which thepackage of the container 102 can lean can be at least one of acorrugated surface or a smooth surface. Further, when the front panel110 is pivoted to move from the raised orientation to the loweredorientation, the package in the container 102 can be released onto asurface of a conveyor 118. In some embodiments, the conveyor 118 can beindependent from the platform 108 of the container unloader 100. In someother embodiments, the conveyor 118 can be attached to the platform 108of the container unloader 100 using an attachment means, such as one ormore hinges, which can generate a pivoting movement of the platform 108with respect to the conveyor 118.

In some embodiments, the front panel 110 can further comprise a firstside panel 106 and a second side panel 132. The first side panel 106 andthe second side panel 132 can be configured to be placed in an uprightposition with respect to the platform 108 to ensure that the packagefrom the container 102 released onto the surface of the conveyor 118does not fall from one or more edge surfaces of the front panel 110 onthe ground surface.

In some embodiments, the container 102 can comprise any shape and sizesuch that the container 102 can fit into a cargo area of an aircraft. Insome other embodiments, a sensing module, such as a camera, can be usedto detect whether the container 102 comprises the package. In yet someother embodiments, the sensing module can be used to detect whether thepackage has been released from the container 102 onto the surface of theconveyor 118.

In some embodiments, a rotary joint 126 can be placed between thecontainer 102 and a surface of the platform 108 on which the container102 is placed. The rotary joint 126 can be used to rotate the container102 around a rotational axis that is normal to one or more of theplatform 108 and the front panel 110 of the container unloader 100. Insome embodiments, a motor 128 can be used to control the rotation of therotary joint 126.

In some embodiments, the rotary joint 126 can be configured to rotatethe container 102 when the front panel 110 is in the raised orientation.The front panel 110 can be placed at a first offset distance from thecontainer 102 such that the container 102 can rotate around therotational axis that is normal to the platform 108. In some otherembodiments, the rotary joint 126 can be configured to rotate thecontainer 102 when the front panel 110 is in the lowered orientation torelease the package in the container 102.

In some embodiments, when the container 102 is transported from thefirst roller bed 116 of the robotic device 114 to the second roller bed104 of the platform 108, a locking mechanism can be used to latch thecontainer 102 to a surface of the second roller bed 104. In someembodiments, one or more latches such as 124 can be used to latch thecontainer 102 into position on the second roller bed 104. In response tothe latches such as 124 latching the container 102 into position on thesecond roller bed 104, the actuator 112 can lift a combination of theplatform 108, the second roller bed 104, and the container 102 to theelevated height from the ground surface. The front panel 110 can then beconfigured to move from the raised orientation to the loweredorientation to release the package in the container 102 onto the surfaceof the conveyor 118 through the opening in the front surface of thecontainer 102.

In some embodiments, when the container 102 is placed on the secondroller bed 104 of the platform 108, the container 102 and the secondroller bed 104 can rotate around the rotational axis that is normal tothe platform 108 using the rotary joint 126. The rotary joint 126 can bepositioned between the platform 108 and the second roller bed 104 suchthat at least one or more of the second roller bed 104 and the container102 rotate with respect to the front panel 110. In some embodiments, therotary joint 126 can be configured to rotate up to 90 degrees around therotational axis. In some other embodiments, the rotary joint 126 can beconfigured to rotate up to any other degree around the rotational axis.One or more packages stuck in one or more portions of the container 102can be dislodged due to the rotation of the container 102 using therotary joint 126.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment 200 comprising a plurality of containers to be unloaded,according to one or more embodiments described herein. The warehouseenvironment 200 can further comprise robotic devices, such as 202, 204,206, and 208, wherein the robotic devices 202, 204, 206, and 208 caneach comprise a roller-bed on which containers such as 210, 212, 214,and 216 can be placed. The containers 210, 212, 214, and 216 cancomprise one or more packages. The container 212 of the containers 210,212, 214, and 216 can be placed in an elevated position using anactuator 232 to release the one or more packages in the container 212 ona surface of conveyors such as 220, 222, and 224. The actuator 232 canbe a part of container unloaders such as 234, wherein the actuator 232can be used to elevate the containers such as 210, 212, 214, and 216 toa first height at a back end surface of the containers such as 210, 212,214, and 216 with respect to a ground surface, wherein the containerssuch as 210, 212, 214, and 216 can comprise at least a front end surfaceand the back end surface. The containers such as 210, 212, 214, and 216can be configured to be elevated to the first height such that the backend surface of the containers such as 210, 212, 214, and 216 can beplaced at an upward position with respect to conveyors such as 220, 222,and 224. The container unloaders such as 234 can comprise a front panelsuch as 228. The front panel 228 can further be configured to be movedin a raised orientation and a lowered orientation with respect to theconveyors such as 220, 222, and 224. When the containers such as 210,212, 214, and 216 are not elevated, the front panel such as 228 can beplaced in the raised orientation. When the containers such as 210, 212,214, and 216 are elevated (illustrated by the container 212 in FIG. 2 ),the front panel such as 228 can be placed in the lowered position suchthat the one or more packages in the containers such as 210, 212, 214,and 216 can be released on the conveyors such as 220, 222, and 224. Theconveyors such as 220, 222, and 224 can be at least one or more of abelt-conveyor module or a roller-bed module. The conveyors 220, 222, and224 can further be attached to a common conveyor 218. The commonconveyor 218 can receive the one or more packages from the conveyorssuch as 220, 222, and 224.

In some embodiments, the conveyors such as 220, 222, and 224 can besimilar to each other in shape and dimension. In some other embodiments,the conveyors such as 220, 222, and 224 can be different from each otherin shape and dimension.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment 300 comprising a plurality of container unloaders such as316 and 318, wherein the plurality of container unloaders such as 316and 318 can comprise a plurality of front panels such as 322 and 324respectively, connected to a continuous conveyor 326, according to oneor more embodiments described herein. The warehouse environment 300further comprises robotic devices such as 302, 304, 306, and 308 thatcan transport containers such as 310, 312, 320, and 314. The containerssuch as 310, 312, 320, and 314 can further comprise one or morepackages. The containers such as 310, 312, 320, and 314 can comprise anopening in a front surface of the containers such as 310, 312, 320, and314 to release the one or more packages. The containers such as 310,312, 320, and 314 can further be placed at a first angle with respect toa ground surface (as illustrated by the containers 310 and 312 in thefigure), or at a second angle with respect to the ground surface, (asillustrated by the container 320 in the figure).

The container unloaders such as 316 and 318 can further comprise frontpanels such as 322 and 324 respectively. As illustrated in the figure,the front panel 322 of the container unloader 316 can be in a raisedorientation when the container 310 is at the first angle with respect tothe ground surface. Further, as illustrated in the figure, the frontpanel 324 of the container unloader 318 can be in a lowered orientationwhen the container 320 is at the second angle with respect to the groundsurface. When the container 320 is at the second angle with respect tothe ground surface and the front panel 324 is in the loweredorientation, the one or more packages in the container 320 can bereleased on a platform 330 of a plurality of platforms such as 328, 332,and 330, wherein the container unloaders such as 316 and 318 can furtherbe connected to the plurality of platforms such as 328, 332, and 330.

The plurality of platforms such as 328, 332, and 330 can be connected tothe continuous conveyor 326 such that the one or more packages releasedon the platform 330 of the plurality of platforms such as 328, 332 canbe transported on the continuous conveyor 326.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the warehouseenvironment 300 comprising the plurality of container unloaders such as316 and 318, wherein the plurality of container unloaders 316 and 318can comprise the plurality of front panels such as 322 and 324respectively, connected to the plurality of conveyors such as 334, 336,and 338, according to one or more embodiments described herein. In someembodiments, the plurality of conveyors such as 334, 336, and 338 can beat least one or more of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or any othertype of conveyor. In some other embodiments, the plurality of conveyorssuch as 334, 336, and 338 can comprise a first side panel such as 340and a second side panel such as 342.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a warehouseenvironment 400 comprising a container unloader 418 in a horizontalposition with respect to a front panel 406 attached to the containerunloader 418, wherein the front panel 406 is in a raised orientation,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

The warehouse environment 400 can further comprise a device 416 totransport a container 402 to the container unloader 418. The containerunloader 418 can further comprise a platform 404 and the front panel406. The platform 404 can receive the container 402 being transported bythe device 416. In some embodiments, the container unloader 418 canfurther comprise a roller bed on which the container 402 can be placed.The front panel 406 of the container unloader 418 can be in a raisedorientation when the container 402 is at a first angle with respect to aground surface. When the front panel 406 of the container unloader 418is in the raised orientation, the front panel 406 can be orthogonal withrespect to the platform 404 of the container unloader 418.

In some embodiments, the first angle at which the container 402 isplaced with respect to the ground surface can be a zero-degree angle inwhich the container 402 can be placed in a horizontal position withrespect to the ground surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the container 402 can comprise one or morepackages such as 412 which can be released from the container 402through an opening in a front face of the container 402 to a conveyor414, wherein the front face of the container 402 can face the frontpanel 406 of the container unloader 418. In some embodiments, the frontpanel 406 of the container unloader 418 can further comprise a firstside panel 408 and a second side panel 410, wherein front panel 406, thefirst side panel 408 and the second side panel 410 can be in an uprightposition with respect to a platform 404 of the container unloader 418.

In some embodiments, the device 416 from which the container unloader418 receives the container 402 can be a robotic device such as anautomated guided vehicle (AGV) or an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Insome other embodiments, the device 416 can be a fork-lift truck.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the containerunloader 418 in an inclined position with respect to the front panel 406attached to the container unloader 418, wherein the container unloader418 is in the raised orientation, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

The platform 404 of the container unloader 418 can be configured to movefrom the first angle to a second angle using an actuator, wherein thesecond angle is greater than the first angle. When the platform 404 ofthe container unloader 418 is at the first angle, the platform 404 canbe horizontal with respect to the ground surface. When the platform 404of the container unloader 418 is at the second angle, the actuator canbe configured to raise the platform 404 of the container unloader 418such that the container 402 can be placed at an elevated height withrespect to the ground surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when the container unloader 418 is placed inthe inclined position, the one or more packages such as 412 can move outfrom the container 402 and lean against a surface of the front panel406. The first side panel 408 and the second side panel 410 of the frontpanel 406 can be used to ensure that the one or more packages such as412 do not fall over from one or more edge surfaces of the front panel406 on the ground surface.

FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the containerunloader 418 in an inclined position with respect to the front panel 406attached to the container unloader 418, wherein the front panel 406 isin a lowered orientation, according to one or more embodiments describedherein. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, when the front panel 406 of thecontainer unloader 418 is in the lowered orientation, the one or morepackages 412 in the container 402 can be released from the surface ofthe front panel 406 to a surface of the conveyor 414.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of rotation of acontainer 502 placed on a container unloader 504 with respect to a frontpanel 514 and a platform 512 of the container unloader 504 in awarehouse environment 500, wherein the front panel 514 is in a raisedorientation, according to one or more embodiments described herein. Thecontainer 502 can comprise one or more packages. In some embodiments,the front panel 514 of the container unloader 504 can be moved betweenthe raised orientation and a lowered orientation (shown in FIG. 5B)using a drive system, wherein the drive system can be at least one ormore of a motor drive system, a hydraulic drive system, or any otheractuator-based drive system. In some other embodiments, the front panel514 of the container unloader 504 can further comprise a first sidepanel 516 and a second side panel 518.

In some embodiments, a front face of the container 502 which faces thefront panel 514 can comprise a square opening 510. Further, the frontface of the container 502 can comprise a first side panel 506 and asecond side panel 508. The square opening 510 can be used to transportthe one or more packages in the container 502 to a surface of the frontpanel 514, wherein the front panel 514 can be in a raised orientation.

In some embodiments, the container 502 can be latched on a roller bedsurface on the platform 512 of the container unloader 504 using one ormore latches, such that the container 502 is locked in a position on theplatform 512 of the container unloader 504. As illustrated in FIG. 5A,the container 502 can rotate in an anti-clockwise direction around arotational axis X which is normal to the front panel 514 of thecontainer unloader 504. In some embodiments, the container 502 can beconfigured to be placed on the platform 512 of the container unloader512 at an offset distance from the front panel 514 of the containerunloader 504. The offset distance between the container 502 and thefront panel 514 of the container unloader 504 can be determined as aminimum distance at which the container 502 can rotate around therotational axis X which is normal to the front panel 514 of thecontainer unloader 504.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of rotation of thecontainer unloader 504 on which the container 502 is placed, withrespect to the front panel 514 connected to the container unloader 504,wherein the front panel 514 is in a lowered orientation, according toone or more embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, thecontainer 502 can rotate in the anti-clockwise direction around therotational axis X which is normal to the front panel 514 of thecontainer unloader 504 (as illustrated in the figure). In some otherembodiments, the container 502 can rotate in a clockwise directionaround the rotational axis X which is normal to the front panel 514 ofthe container unloader 504.

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary perspective side view of rotation ofthe container unloader 504 on which the container 502 is placed, withrespect to the front panel 514 connected to the container unloader 504,wherein the front panel 514 is in the lowered orientation, according toone or more embodiments described herein. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, acombination of the container unloader 504 and the container 502 which isplaced on the container unloader 504 can rotate in the clockwisedirection around the rotational axis X, wherein the rotational axis X isnormal with respect to the front panel 514 of the container unloader504.

FIG. 5D illustrates an exemplary perspective top view of rotation of thecontainer unloader 504 on which the container 502 is placed, withrespect to the front panel 514 connected to the container unloader 504,wherein the front panel 514 of the container unloader 504 is in thelowered orientation, according to one or more embodiments describedherein. The container 502 can be latched in position on the containerunloader 504 using one or more latches such as 504 and 526. Thecontainer unloader 504 can further comprise of the platform 512 on whichthe container 502 is placed.

In some embodiments, the platform 512 of the container unloader 504 canbe moved from a first angle to a second angle using an actuator 532,wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle. When theactuator 523 has moved the platform 512 from the first angle to thesecond angle, the container 502 can rotate in the clockwise direction orthe anti-clockwise direction around the rotational axis X.

In some embodiments, the container 502 can be placed on a roller bed onthe platform 512 of the container unloader 504, such that a combinationof the container 502 and the roller bed can rotate with respect to theplatform 512 of the container unloader 504. In some embodiments, thefront panel 514 of the container unloader 504 can comprise a first sidepanel 516 and a second side panel 518. In some other embodiments, theplatform 512 of the container unloader 504 can be connected to aconveyor 520, wherein the conveyor 520 can further comprise a pair ofside panels, such as 522 and 524.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example flowchart 600 representing a method ofreleasing a package onto a conveyor using the container unloader, inaccordance with some example embodiments described herein.

The method starts at step 602. At step 602, a container can be receivedon a platform of a device, wherein the container can comprise an item.Further, the platform can be placed at a first angle with respect to aground surface when the platform of the device receives the container.

At step 604, a front panel of the device can be moved between a raisedorientation and a lowered orientation, such that the front panel of thedevice can be in the raised orientation when the front panel isorthogonal with respect to the platform of the device, and the frontpanel of the device can be in the lowered orientation when the frontpanel and the platform of the device form a continuous surface.

At step 606, the platform of the device can be pivoted from the firstangle to a second angle with respect to the ground surface, wherein thesecond angle can be greater than the first angle.

In response to the platform of the device being pivoted from the firstangle to a second angle with respect to the ground surface, thecontainer can be rotated around a rotational axis which is normal withrespect to the platform of the device such that the item in thecontainer can be configured to lean against a surface of the front panelof the device when the front panel of the container is in the raisedorientation, as is disclosed in step 608.

In an alternate embodiment, the container can be rotated around arotational axis which is normal with respect to the platform of thedevice such that the item in the container can be configured to leanagainst a surface of the front panel of the device when the front panelof the container is in the lowered orientation, as is disclosed in step610.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example,instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the wordexemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As usedin this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, orclear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of thenatural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; orX employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under anyof the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” asused in this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

In addition, while a particular feature may have been disclosed withrespect to only one of several implementations, such feature may becombined with one or more other features of the other implementations asmay be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes” and “including” andvariants thereof are used in either the detailed description or theclaims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar tothe term “comprising.”

The above descriptions of various embodiments of the subject disclosureand corresponding figures and what is described in the Abstract, aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise formsdisclosed. It is to be understood that one of ordinary skill in the artmay recognize that other embodiments having modifications, permutations,combinations, and additions can be implemented for performing the same,similar, alternative, or substitute functions of the disclosed subjectmatter, and are therefore considered within the scope of thisdisclosure. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not belimited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should beconstrued in breadth and scope in accordance with the claims below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a container on aplatform of a device, wherein the container comprises an item andwherein the platform is at a first angle with respect to a groundsurface when the platform receives the container; moving a front panelof the device between a raised orientation and a lowered orientationwith respect to the platform, wherein in response to the front panelbeing in the raised orientation, the front panel is orthogonal withrespect to the platform, and in response to the front panel being in thelowered orientation, the front panel and the platform form a continuoussurface; pivoting the platform from the first angle to a second anglewith respect to the ground surface that is larger than the first angle,wherein pivoting the platform to the second angle comprises at least oneor more of: rotating the container around a rotational axis which isnormal with respect to the platform to configure the item in thecontainer to lean against a surface of the front panel when the frontpanel is in the raised orientation; and rotating the container aroundthe rotational axis which is normal with respect to the platform toconfigure the item to be released onto a surface of a conveyor when thefront panel is in the lowered orientation.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the method further comprises configuring a first side panel anda second side panel of the front panel of the device to be placed in anupright position with respect to a surface of the front panel.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises configuring aroller bed to receive the container, wherein the roller bed ispositioned on the platform of the device.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the method further comprises latching the container to a surfaceof the platform of the device using a locking mechanism.
 5. The methodof claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises one or morelatches.
 6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprisesconfiguring a rotary joint to be placed between the platform of thedevice and the container to rotate the container around the rotationalaxis which is normal with respect to the platform.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the method further comprises transporting the containerto the device using at least one of a robotic device or a fork-lifttruck.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprisestransferring the container from at least one of the robotic device orthe fork-lift truck to the platform of the device.
 9. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the method further comprises configuring the containerto be transported from the platform of the device to at least one of therobotic device or the fork-lift truck when the item has been released onthe surface of the conveyor.